As researchers in the United States face budget cuts and political interference with their work, European universities see opportunities to attract more talent to Europe. Bernd Parusel, senior researcher in political science at SIEPS, and Lisa Lundgren, intern at SIEPS, ask what the EU could do to support such initiatives. (April 2025)
Europe needs to carry out a rearmament amounting to several hundred billion euros in the coming years. Where will the money come from – and on what should they be spent? This was discussed at a webinar on 2 April.
Recent publications in English
The decision-making bodies of the EU are negotiating a revised EU-framework to prevent and counter the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and stay – a phenomenon commonly called smuggling of migrants. In this analysis, Gabriella Sanchez (Georgetown University) takes a critical look at the planned legislation. (2025:6epa)
EU speeches and policy documents feature many political concepts, both recurrent and new ones. What do these concepts imply – and what is it that EU leaders and institutions want to achieve by using them? SIEPS has asked leading experts to take a critical look. (2025:1op)
The stakes are high when Germany holds snap elections on 23 February 2025. For the EU, both domestic and European policies in the most populous country in the Union are of great importance. Valentin Kreilinger (SIEPS) analyses what the parties' positions, the possible coalitions and the upcoming policy decisions mean for Europe. (2025:3epa)
How will the EU’s decision-making processes be affected if the number of member states grows significantly? This issue has been discussed since enlargement once again became a priority for the EU. In this analysis, Piret Ehin (University of Tartu) assesses the effects of three enlargement scenarios on the balance of power in the Council. (2025:5epa)
A long trend of increasing gender balance in the European Parliament was broken with the 2024 election results. Johanna Kantola, Professor at the University of Helsinki, analyses the state of gender equality in the European Parliament. (2025:4epa)
EU enlargement will have consequences for where foreign investment is made. Colin Wren (Newcastle University) examines past enlargements and draws conclusions about future ones: which countries will be most attractive to invest in as the EU grows? (2025:2epa)
European security
What efforts are required to build up both civilian and military defence structures within the EU? This question is discussed by Katarina Engberg, security expert and senior advisor at SIEPS. Her European Policy Analysis, which was published in January 2025, provides an overview of the efforts and includes a discussion on Europe’s responsibility for the security of Ukraine.
Read more on and download her publication Towards a European Total Defence Union? and other SIEPS analyses on related topics.
By the same author: A European Defence Union by 2025? Work in Progress, a policy overview published in January 2021.
Security and defence are high on the EU's agenda for the new political cycle. Katarina Engberg analyses the initiatives within the EU that point towards a total defence as well as the challenges and opportunities this brings. (2025:1epa)
A new SIEPS forum where experts from research, policy and think tanks present their thoughts on EU reform and enlargement in short texts.
September 2024 • Dimitrova Antoaneta
While bold decisions have brought enlargement back on the EU’s agenda, long-standing constraints and challenges remain. In this contribution, Professor Antoaneta Dimitrova sheds light on three dilemmas facing EU and candidate state leaders. (24 September)
September 2024 • Anghel Veronica
Activating its enlargement process is not optional for the European Union. In this post, Professor Veronica Anghel argues that enlargement, particularly to wartime Ukraine, is a matter of institutional survival, a major push to enact reforms the EU needs, and a strategy for the EU to respond to the growing competitiveness gap between the organisation and global economic powers. (20 September)
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